PRESIDENT BARACK Obama has confirmed that he will receive the Taoiseach at the White House on St Patrick’s Day in one of the president’s first meetings in Washington with a foreign leader since taking office last month.
“The United States and Ireland have strong bilateral relations, deep cultural ties and a commitment to positive change in the world,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said at his daily press briefing yesterday.
“The president is committed to strengthening our partnership with Ireland to address global challenges.
“The president also looks forward to commemorating with the Taoiseach his first St Patrick’s Day in the White House, a celebration that serves as a reminder of the rich history and the friendship that our two countries share.”
The White House has yet to finalise details of the event but it is expected to include the traditional presentation of a bowl of shamrock by the Taoiseach, followed by a bilateral meeting and a reception in the White House.
On March 15th, Mr Cowen will travel to New York, where he will address a business breakfast the following morning before leaving for Washington.
On March 16th, the Taoiseach will attend an American Ireland Fund dinner honouring Dan Rooney, a Pittsburgh businessman and owner of this year’s Superbowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mr Rooney (76) was a co- founder of the Ireland Funds in 1976 with Sir Anthony O’Reilly.
Mr Rooney, who supported Mr Obama during the presidential campaign, is widely expected to be named as the next US ambassador to Ireland.
The North’s First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will also be in the US during St Patrick’s week, promoting inward investment.
The US administration is expected to name a successor to Paula Dobriansky as special envoy for Northern Ireland in advance of St Patrick’s Day.
Among those tipped for the post are Anne-Marie Slaughter, an international relations expert named last month as director of policy planning at the state department, and Mark Tuohey, a Washington DC lawyer who acted as a consultant to the Patten commission on policing in the North in 1998 and 1999.
Japanese prime minister Taro Aso last week became the first foreign leader to meet Mr Obama in the White House and the president will receive Britain’s Gordon Brown next week.